Yahoo Finance First in line: Locked-down Aussies can claim $600 COVID-19 cash today
Residents of the first seven local government areas to be locked down amid NSW’s current coronavirus outbreak will be able to apply for their $375 or $600 lockdown payments from today.
From Thursday 15 July, which marks the start of the fourth week of lockdown, eligible workers from Sydney’s Bayside, City of Sydney, Canada Bay, Inner West, Randwick, Waverley and Woollahra can head to my.Gov.au to apply for their COVID-19 Disaster Payments.
“If you were eligible on one day during this period, you may be able to get this payment,” Services Australia stated on its website.
The payments, initially $500 for those who have lost 20 or more hours of work a week and $325 for those who have lost less than 20 hours, were increased to $600 and $325 as part of a major COVID-19 rescue package released on Tuesday.
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You won’t need to meet the liquid asset test, either, which has been waived since 8 July following the Prime Minister’s announcement last week.
Payments should begin hitting Aussie bank accounts from tomorrow, Friday 16 July.
Meanwhile, those who live in Greater Sydney will be able to make their claims from this Sunday 18 July.
These lockdown payments will be automatically recurring for anyone who applies for the payments from today onwards, the agency said.
“When you claim from the third period starting 15 July 2021, we’ll ask you if we can make automatic payments for future periods.
“If you agree to this, you’ll get a payment each time a new period becomes available without having to make another claim.”
How to claim
To get the payments, you’ll have to head online to my.Gov.au.
Your myGov account will need to be linked to a Centrelink account.
If your myGov isn’t yet linked to Centrelink, you’ll need to provide some proof of who you are to link the accounts.
Sydney visitors could be eligible for payments too
People who aren’t residents of Sydney may actually be eligible for the lockdown payments, too.
“If you lost income because you visited Sydney and were subject to a restricted movement order, you may be eligible for COVID-19 Disaster Payment,” Services Australia states.
You need to have visited those seven LGAs or Greater Sydney in the relevant periods and then have been advised to lock down as a result.
“If you were eligible on one day during a relevant period, you may be able to get this payment.”
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